Trirodov smiled in a friendly fashion:

"That is the nature of this place," he observed. "Terror and joy live
here together."

* * * * *

The sisters were shown many interesting things in the house--objects
of art and of worship; things which told of distant lands and of hoary
antiquity; engravings of a strange and disturbing character;
variegated stones, turquoise, pearls; ugly, amorphous, and grotesque
idols; representations of the god-child--there were many of these, but
only one face profoundly stirred Elisaveta....

Elena enjoyed the objects that resembled toys. There were many things
there that one could play with, and thus indulge in a jumble of magic
reflections of time and space.

The sisters had seen so much that it seemed as if an age had passed,
but actually they had spent only two hours here. It is impossible to
measure time. One hour is an age, another is an instant; but humanity
makes no distinction, levels the hours down to an average.

"What, only two hours!" exclaimed Elena. "How long we've spent here.
It's time to go home for dinner."

"Do you mind being a little late?" asked Trirodov.

"How can we?" said Elena.